Keyboard interaction lets people move through and operate a digital interface without a mouse, trackpad, touchscreen, or other pointer device. The key question is whether each needed element is focusable: visible and able to receive keyboard input. Browsers do not automatically convert every pointer interaction into an equivalent keyboard interaction. section 7.3.3
The main keystrokes provide a compact interaction vocabulary:
- Tab moves to the next focusable element; Shift-Tab moves backward. section 7.3.3
- Space toggles the focused element, such as opening a dropdown or checking a checkbox. section 7.3.3
- Enter activates the focused button or link and can submit a form; inside a large text box, it inserts a line break instead. section 7.3.3
- Arrow keys scroll the active viewport or change values, such as moving a slider or switching among radio buttons. section 7.3.3
A predictable focus path
A keyboard-only visitor presses Tab to move through links, buttons, and dropdown menus, then uses Space to toggle a checkbox and Enter to activate a button. The focus order generally follows reading order: left to right and top to bottom, with right-to-left languages reversing the horizontal direction. section 7.3.3
Treat interaction as a purposeful design choice rather than decoration. Keep the most important information immediately visible, and require interaction only when it helps users engage with or understand the visualization. section 7.2.3
